Mr. Huynh Van Chuong - Director of the Department of Quality Management, Ministry of Education and Training - said that this year's exam has the highest number of candidates in many years with 1,223,776 registered candidates (an increase of about 60,000 candidates compared to 2025). Digital transformation has reached a new record when up to 98.45% of candidates registered to take the exam online. Regarding the exam structure, the exam remains stable with 4 subjects (2 compulsory subjects Math, Literature and 2 elective subjects).
Notably, the registration rate for Physics and Chemistry increased by 15-20%, and Technology increased sharply by 200%. Conversely, the exemption from foreign language exams decreased significantly (accounting for less than 8%) due to changes in university admission policies that are no longer too dependent on IELTS certificates, students have focused more substantively on taking the exam and there is a strong shift of candidates to STEM subjects.
Up to this point, the Director affirmed that the exam question banking system is ready, not only serving the 2026 High School Graduation Exam but also creating a roadmap for computer-based exams from 2027. Training work has also made major improvements according to the "3 in 1" model (combining regulations, inspection and technology) to increase efficiency and save costs. It is expected that the whole country will have about 2,500 exam sites with 50,000 exam rooms.
However, besides the advantages, Mr. Chuong acknowledged that with the sharp increase in the scale of candidates, the pressure on printing, copying, transporting exam papers and invigilating is very high, especially in provinces and cities with a large number of candidates such as: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Nghe An, Thanh Hoa. At the same time, the risk of fraud using high-tech equipment, mainly through smartphones, is still the top risk. In addition, localities also need to proactively plan responses to natural disasters and landslides in early June.
To ensure the exam is absolutely safe and serious, Standing Deputy Minister of Education and Training Pham Ngoc Thuong - Head of the National Steering Committee for the 2026 high school graduation exam - directed the implementation of 5 key task groups including: Leadership and direction work must be carried out deeply, comprehensively, and thoroughly from the central to local levels; lessons learned about preparing "early, remotely", proactively and thoroughly in all conditions; coordination work, with a scale of more than 1 million candidates and about 200,000 officials and forces participating in the exam (including police, cryptography, electricity, health, transportation...); Professional expertise; Communication work.
Training work must be substantive, from awareness to expertise" - the Deputy Minister noted.
Hanoi tightens security and traffic before the 2026 high school graduation exam
Hanoi City is expected to arrange 222 exam sites with more than 6,100 exam rooms, mobilizing more than 15,100 officials, teachers, and staff to participate in invigilation. Up to this point, departments, branches and localities have basically completed the preparation work, from the Personnel of the Steering Committee, facilities, installation of security cameras to preparing stationery, funds and conditions to serve the exam.
Providing information on the preparation for the exam, Mr. Nguyen Quang Tuan - Deputy Director of Hanoi Department of Education and Training - said that Hanoi is also developing plans to ensure electricity, traffic, health, fire and explosion prevention, and response to storms and epidemics to ensure absolute safety for candidates and task forces. Faced with the situation that many projects under construction may affect traffic, Hanoi Department of Construction said that it will require units to reduce dust, reduce barriers, and minimize the impact on the travel of candidates and parents during the exam period.
Hanoi City Police has developed a plan to ensure security at all ward and commune police; organized training for 100% of officers participating in tasks. Meanwhile, the Hanoi Youth Union mobilized more than 20 universities and colleges to participate in the "Exam Season Support" program in 2026.
Ho Chi Minh City mobilizes nearly 18,000 invigilators for the exam
Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training Nguyen Van Hieu said that Ho Chi Minh City has basically completed the preparation for the 2026 high school graduation exam with the largest scale in the country. According to statistics, there are 142,899 registered candidates, including 134,771 12th grade students and 8,128 independent candidates.
The city will organize 248 exam sites with 5,955 exam rooms, and at the same time mobilize a large force to serve the exam including 17,865 invigilators, 1,240 exam site leaders, nearly 3,000 service staff and hundreds of police officers, printing and copying exam papers and transporting exam papers.
To ensure the safety of the exam, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training has organized training on exam regulations for 100% of officials participating in the exam work; and at the same time reviewed all facilities at exam sites according to the new requirements of the 2026 regulations. Exam rooms are arranged with a maximum of 24 candidates, ensuring a minimum distance between candidates. The area for preserving exam papers and exam papers is equipped with 24/24 hour surveillance cameras and has police forces on duty continuously. The city also develops plans to respond to arising situations such as heavy rain, flooding, power outages, technology incidents and the risk of fraud using high-tech equipment...
Ha Tinh develops plans to respond to storms and incidents in the high school graduation exam
Ha Tinh province has 18,661 registered candidates, including 15,329 general education system candidates and 3,332 continuing education system candidates. The locality arranges 35 official exam sites, 2 reserve exam sites with a total of 797 exam rooms and 70 waiting rooms. It is expected that more than 3,230 officials, teachers, and staff will participate in the stages of organizing the exam.
The Ha Tinh education sector has implemented 2 mock exams to familiarize students with the official exam. The mock exam results are also the basis for schools to review teaching quality, classify students and strengthen tutoring for those who are at risk of not meeting requirements.
Along with professional work, the province pays special attention to conditions to ensure security and safety for the exam. The Provincial People's Committee has directed departments, branches, and localities to develop complete plans on electricity, water, health, fire and explosion prevention, food safety, security and order, and traffic. The Provincial Police has organized training on protecting state secrets, identifying high-tech equipment in exams for task forces. Localities also review and support candidates in difficult circumstances, remote and isolated areas, ensuring that no candidates have to drop out of the exam due to economic or travel conditions.
Regarding the organization of the exam, all exam sites are required to fully prepare facilities, surveillance camera systems, exam paper and exam paper preservation rooms in accordance with regulations; and at the same time develop contingency plans to respond to extreme weather, storms or arising situations.
Phu Tho - Prioritizing all resources for the first high school graduation exam after merger
Mr. Nguyen Khac Hieu - Vice Chairman of Phu Tho Provincial People's Committee - said that the number of candidates and exam scores of the province are among the highest in the country, while conditions between regions are still very different, especially in mountainous areas.
The province has also developed scenarios to respond to arising situations such as natural disasters, traffic, and electricity to ensure that the exam takes place smoothly in all conditions. In addition, to suit the large area after the merger, the province also established 3 inter-provincial on-duty points to handle incidents, conduct surprise inspections and support working groups.
The locality also strengthens many solutions to support candidates in difficult circumstances. Phu Tho Provincial Youth Union implements the "Exam Season Support" program; at the same time, the Education sector coordinates with parents, local authorities and mass organizations to support funding, transportation, and accommodation for students far from the exam sites. According to statistics, currently about 375 students are supported with funding and 973 students far away are supported with accommodation and meals during the exam period.
Nghe An applies AI to support students before the graduation exam
Mr. Nguyen Van Khoa - Director of Nghe An Department of Education and Training - said that the whole province has 42,129 candidates registered to take the 2026 high school graduation exam, including 2,235 independent candidates. The province arranges 71 exam sites with 1,810 exam rooms, mobilizing more than 4,300 invigilators and nearly 500 exam graders.
Right from the beginning of the school year, the Nghe An Education sector has implemented review in the direction of differentiating students' abilities, strengthening free tutoring for weak students and fostering groups of students with high score goals. The whole province organized 3 direct mock exams and more than 10 online mock exams for students to get acquainted with the new exam structure.
The Education sector also launched the movement "90 days and nights determined to achieve high results in the 2026 high school graduation exam", and at the same time applied artificial intelligence in building learning materials, analyzing learning outcomes and supporting exam preparation. PV Group
